CRTC for ITCAMP: Coastal Profiles. Russian Federation



SECTION 2. PHYSICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL COASTAL PROFILE 2.1 Borders Borders of Caspian coastal area are identified from one side by administrative division of Russian Federation hat includes three of its subjects- Dagestan Republic, Republic of Kalmykia and Astrakhan oblast, and form the other side, by the borders of relevant natural processes. The most typical process characterizing the coastal area is interaction of land and sea. It varies in time and space. For the last 10 thousand years the level of Caspian oscillated between absolute altitudes –20 and –30 m. Total length of Russian Caspian coast is 1460 km and in relation to the present level of Caspian (-27 m abs) the area of sea impact can change from 7 m over the modern shore line to the depth of around 15 m, where bulge forming role of waves and river flows is significant. 2.2 Climate Coastal climate is temperate continental, on the south transforming to subtropic, dry, with hot summer and relatively mild winter. Yearly sum of radiation balance is 3500-3900 MJ/m² per year. Air mass with continental characteristics are prevailing – relative humidity up to 60-70% in summer and 70-80% in winter. For Northern part of Caspian January is the coldest month, June is the warmest one. Average monthly temperature in January is from –6,8 to 1,4 ° C. Duration of frost period reduces from north to south and from east to west. Largest yearly range of air temperature is observed over north-western part of the sea (25-27° ). Longest duration of period when average daily air temperature is below zero constitutes 113 days for Astrakhan and 100 days for Iskustvenniy island. In winter Northern Caspian is covered by ice. During sever winters the whole water area of Northern Caspian is covered by ice, which sometimes stays from November to March. During mild winters the thickness of fast ice is 35-40 sm., during sever winters- 70-90 sm. Southward the fast ice is not formed, but for instance in Makhachkala area during sever winters with continuous and strong south-eastern winds broken ice can form thick mass with 5-6 m. thickness. Astrakhan raid and area of Chechen, Tuleniy islands are characterized by large hummocking where 3-6 m. ice conglomeration can be observed. Wind activity in northern-western and western areas of Caspian Sea varies. The area of Makhachkala is referred to as the stormiest. South–eastern and eastern winds prevail here in summer, and western and northern western in cold period. Average yearly wind speed is 5/6 mps, strongest monthly-7,6-8,7 mps. Storm winds with the speed of more than 15 mps can be observed along the whole coast. In Kalmyk-Astrakhan area they are most often in April, and in Dagestan – in March. The growth with reduction of width is relevant for spatial distribution of precipitation from north to the south along coast from Astrakhan up to Derbent. The annual amount of precipitations in the area of Astrakhan (208 mm) is approximately 2 times less than in Makhachkala and Derbent . At the cost two maxima of annual precipitations are observed: in September- November and June. The average number of days with a steady snow covers in cities of northern and southern areas of coast changes within the limits of 43-18 days. At the Dagestan coast the snow cover is not formed in more than 50% of winters.		SECTION 1 SECTION 2 SECTION 3 SECTION 4 SECTION 5 SECTION 6